The Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon Abdirahin Abdi yesterday launched the East African Parliamentary Institute (EAPI). The establishment of the EAPI, a first for the region, now provides a unique opportunity for Parliamentarians and other stakeholders to sharpen their skills in parliamentary matters.
Speaking during the launch, Rt. Hon Abdi noted that EAPI would build capacities in the region by providing training in short and long term skills-based courses and in that way, help to build careers of the targeted groups. He lauded the support received from the Summit of the EAC Heads of State and Speakers of the Partner States’ National Assemblies, whose contribution he said, made the inception of the institution possible.
‘I am glad that the Assembly has today realised this objective. It was challenging as it met resistance in certain quarters and I thank the Heads of State for assenting to the EAPI Bill’, the Rt. Hon Speaker noted.
The EAPI’s training targets Parliamentarians, Parliament staff, civil servants, representatives of the Private Sector, Civil Society and other stakeholders.
The Speaker noted that EAPI had secured support from TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) to bring in a Consultant to augment initial seed funding to kick-start the process. He added that EALA and Partner States’ National Assemblies had likewise undertaken to support the activities of the new institute.
The launch follows the assent of the EAPI Bill, 2011 into an Act of the Community. In September 2011, EALA passed the East African Parliamentary Institute (EAPI) Bill, 2011 providing the legal framework for the establishment of the Institute. The EAPI Act inter alia establishes a mechanism for capacity and skills development to promote professionalism through establishment of the institute thus giving effect to article 5 (1) of the Treaty.
EAPI’s main objectives include:
- providing a concentrated and relevant orientation program for new legislators and staff;
- providing Parliamentarians, staff, government officials , Civil Society Organizations and other interested parties with an opportunity to exchange ideas in the context of their own experiences, knowledge, procedures and best practices in their legislatures;
- enabling legislators to be responsive to global changes;
- linking and collaborating with similar institutions globally.
The EAPI aims at enabling beneficiaries better appreciate their role and place in the overall context of the Parliamentary system, leading to informed articulation of issues in relation to Parliamentary affairs. This is likely to address existing lacuna given the fact that not all Members elected to the August House have requisite training in legislation, oversight and representation - the core roles of Parliament.
providing a concentrated and relevant orientation program for new legislators and staff;
- providing Parliamentarians, staff, government officials , Civil Society Organizations and other interested parties with an opportunity to exchange ideas in the context of their own experiences, knowledge, procedures and best practices in their legislatures;
- enabling legislators to be responsive to global changes;
- linking and collaborating with similar institutions globally.
The EAPI aims at enabling beneficiaries better appreciate their role and place in the overall context of the Parliamentary system, leading to informed articulation of issues in relation to Parliamentary affairs. This is likely to address existing lacuna given the fact that not all Members elected to the August House have requisite training in legislation, oversight and representation - the core roles of Parliament.
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For more Information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer; East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org Arusha, Tanzania
